Saturday, 27 August 2011

Czech president Václav Klaus has again - rightly - warned about the danger to freedom created by he present "ever-closerEurope" ideology:

"First, Vienna ruled over us for three centuries, and then Berlin did for a few years. Then the four decades of Moscow followed, and then ten years of freedom. Now we have Brussels," Klaus told the European Forum held in Alpbach, Austria. The president was answering a question about whether he regretted the fact his country had joined the EU.

"After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, there were graffiti on the walls reading, "Back to Europe", and in that situation, it went without saying that we belonged to Europe. That was before Maastricht, that was the time of the European Community," he explained.

According to him, Europeans should cooperate and live together, but that should be taking place through bilateral cooperation between governments, rather than through "supernationalism

It is useful to read what Klaus had to say about the EU in a speech he gave on July 22 in Perth, Australia:

A special case is Europe. In the 1950s, the leading idea behind European integration was to liberalize, to open-up, to remove barriers at the borders of individual European countries, to enable free movement of not only goods and services but of people and ideas around the European continent. It was a positive concept. The situation changed during the 1980s and the decisive breakthrough came with the Maastricht Treaty in December 1991. Integration had turned into unification, liberalization into centralization of decision making, into harmonization of rules and legislation, into the strengthening of European institutions at the expense of institutions in member states, into the growth of democratic deficit, into post-democracy.It was shifted further in the same direction by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The EU has been gradually changing from community of cooperating nations to the union of non-sovereign entities. We see that the move towards an “ever-closer Europe” – without an authentic European identity and an European demos – leads to the accelerated formation of supranational bureaucratic structures. It tends to restrain freedom, democracy and democratic accountability, not to speak about economic efficiency, entrepreneurship and competitiveness.The recent problems with the euro demonstrate it quite convincingly. When I had been criticizing the concept of the artificially created European common currency for the last two decades, no one wanted to listen. It does not give me any pleasure to see now that I was right. It would have been better for me – as for someone who lives in Europe – if I were wrong.Let me conclude by saying that fighting for freedom remains the issue of the day even in the 21st century. We should not become victims of new progressive “isms” dreaming about changing the world and perfecting the men defended and promoted by political correctness. We should stand up for our good old conservative beliefs and convictions. Both in Europe and in Australia.

William Happer, professor of physics at Princeton University, explains why present and future levels of CO2 are NOT a threat to humans, animals or plants. On the contrary, increased carbon dioxide levels could actually be a benefit. The supposed ill effects of more CO2 are from flawed computer models:

What atmospheric levels of CO2 would be a direct threat to health? Both the United States Navy and NASA have performed extensive studies of human tolerance to CO2. As a result of these studies, the navy recommends an upper limit of about 8,000 ppm for cruises of 90 days and NASA recommends an upper limit of 5,000 ppm for missions of 1,000 days. We conclude that atmospheric CO2 levels should be above about 150 ppm to avoid harming green plants and below about 5,000 ppm to avoid harming people.

That is a big range, and our atmosphere is much closer to the lower end than the upper end. We were not that far from CO2 anorexia when massive burning of fossil fuels began. At the current rate of burning fossil fuels, we are adding about 2 ppm of CO2 per year to the atmosphere, so getting from our current level of about 390 ppm to 1,000 ppm would take about 300 years—and 1,000 ppm is still less than most plants would prefer, and much less than either the NASA or the navy limit.

Yet there are strident calls to immediately stop further increases in CO2 levels and reduce levels back to the 270 ppm pre-industrial value that was supposedly "the best of all possible worlds". The first reason for limiting CO2 was to fight global warming. Since the predicted warming has failed to be nearly as large as computer models forecasts, the reason was amended to stopping climate change. Sancta simplicitas. Climate change itself has been embarrassingly uneventful, so another rationale for reducing CO2 is now promoted: to stop the supposed increase of extreme climate events like droughts, hurricanes or tornados. But dispassionate data show that the frequency of extreme events has hardly changed and in some cases has decreased in the 150 years that CO2 levels have increased from 270 ppm to 390 ppm.Other things being equal, doubling the current CO2 level in the atmosphere will increase the surface temperature by about 1 C. This modest warming, together with documented benefits to plant life, would be an overall benefit. The supposed ill effects of more CO2 are from computer models in which water vapour and clouds multiply the modest direct warming by factors of three, four even 10. Observations show no evidence for these large ``positive feedbacks."Read the entire article here

PS
Warmists will most certainly try to attack anybody who dares to challenge their holy models. But they will not be able to use their usual "flat-earther" invective against professor Happer.

Friday, 26 August 2011

China´s military growth exceeds all forecasts and democratic Taiwan remains its principal focus, according to a fresh Pentagon report. Although the report does not explicitly state it, the study makes it clear that Taiwan is in desperate need on modern weaponry. However, there are clear signs that the Obama administration is not going to let Taiwan buy the F-16 fighters it would need. Obama is afraid of the reaction from communist China, and seems prepared to let down one of the oldest US allies and friends:

Its aircraft carrier program, cyber warfare capabilities and anti-satellite missiles have alarmed neighbors and Washington, the long-delayed comprehensive 84-page report says.While the report contains nothing that is startlingly new, it is dominated by references to Taiwan. And it comes just weeks before the administration of US President Barack Obama has promised to provide an answer to Taipei’s request to buy 66 advanced F-16C/D aircraft.This potential arms sale is not mentioned, but without actually spelling it out the study makes it abundantly clear that Taiwan is in desperate need of new weapons.Titled Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2011, the annual report to Congress from the US Department of Defense makes chilling reading.The Obama administration continues to deny that a decision has yet been made on whether or not to sell the F-16s, but unofficial sources in both Taipei and Washington are signaling that Obama will bow to Chinese pressure and not allow the sale. Instead, he seems likely to offer to modernize Taiwan’s dated F-16A/B aircraft — a move that is less objectionable to Beijing.---In Taipei, the Ministry of National Defense again urged the US government to speed up the sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan.Ministry spokesman David Lo (羅紹和) said the report again highlighted the cross-strait military imbalance.Based on this reasoning, Ma has repeatedly called on the US to supply defensive arms to Taiwan in accordance with the TRA, Lo said.He said the ministry has continued in its efforts to persuade Washington to provide F-16C/D aircraft, F-16A/B upgrades and diesel-electric submarines.

The tentacles of global warming alarmism have now reached water companies:

Attention to our 'water footprint' must be given a higher profile in global climate negotiations, say speakers at a conference marking World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, or the world will suffer.

Hannah Stoddart from the Water Climate Coalition added that "the water community and climate community speak different languages,” therefore there is a need to link policy with those working on the ground.We look at droughts in developing countries such as the current one in East Africa and think that it has nothing to do with us. But in fact our consumption patterns have a direct effect. Behind all of our consumer goods, countless litres of freshwater have been used in agriculture, production and transportation, most of which happened in another part of the world.

Whenever we buy cut flowers from Africa, we are complicit in the diversion of water from domestic use to serve our wish for flowers. These could instead be sourced locally or satisfied by pot plants, which are far more sustainable.Global Action Plan's CEO, Trewin Restorick, observes that: "One of the countries affected is Kenya, which contains the third largest lake in Africa, Lake Naivasha. Around this lake is a flower industry which exports 30% of its flowers to the UK and which provides 23% of Kenya’s GDP. The industry is massively water intensive. The cut flowers we are importing are using essential local water resources, draining their own natural resources for some short-term cash."Our footprint widens in other ways. Producing one burger requires 2,400 litres of water. A pair of imported jeans will have used another 10,000 litres. Like coffee? 140 litres of water will have been used in making just one cup - in bean growing and processing

The EU climate-industrial lobby is probably already busy planning the next steps. Expect a ban on importing flowers and other high "water footprint" products from Kenya and other developing countries. 23% of the Kenyan GDP is for the alarmists only "some short term cash". Of course, the EU must make up the loss of Kenyan (and other) revenue by increasing the already huge climate change "aid". The whole idea is probably to make developing countries even more dependent on foreign "aid".

The coupling of water and climate change offers the climate-industrial lobby endless possibilities to regulate and forbid. Why, indeed, not also ban the import from developing countries of high "water footprint" coffee, tea, meat, spices, jeans, electronics ... (you name it)? Warmists will probably find a way to forbid Big Macs, too.

Thursday, 25 August 2011

James Joyner, managing editor of the Atlantic Council notes that there there is not very much to celebrate for the European members of NATO after the recent events in Libya:

The fighting in Libya demonstrated just how hollow most European militaries are. Despite President Obama's continued assurance that the U.S. role would last "days, not weeks" and that the European allies would take the lead, the fact of the matter was that they simply lacked the resources to do so. Yes, Europeans eventually flew the bulk of the "strike sorties" in Unified Protector. But the Americans provided virtually all of the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; and aerial refueling missions.Reeling from ten years of fighting in Afghanistan, most NATO forces are spent. Libya hastened the decay, using up resources to such an extent that several allies were literally out of ammunition and fuel and had to beg others for resupply. And, with austerity a way of life for the foreseeable future, few are prioritizing necessary replenishment, much less retooling for future fights.

PSJoyner is, of course, right. And, regrettably, there are no signs that the key European NATO member countries intend to strengthen their defense capabilities in the near future. So, in spite of the modest success in Libya, the future of NATO does not look very good.

Saif al-Islam, who received his PhD from the London School of Economics, also gave the LSE a grant of £1.5 million

It is worth remembering that Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, 38, son of Muammar el-Gaddafi was until recently the darling of the liberal establishment in Europe and the U.S. In 2007 for example, the New York Times, an ardent promoter of the human induced global warming myth, run this adulatory portrait of of Seif:

A Son Radiates His Own Light in His Father’s LibyaThe thin man with a shaved head smiled slightly as he made his way to a podium erected amid Greek ruins, a serious presence in a boisterous crowd that gathered last week to celebrate plans for an eco-development region near this town in the deserts of eastern Libya.In a skullcap and white tunic with a gold-trimmed vest, the man talked slowly, deliberately, even a bit nervously, presenting data in English about desertification, oil and carbon emissions. He corrected even the smallest grammatical errors in the printed speech he was reading.“Climate change is a global problem, but global solutions start with local solutions,” he said in faintly accented English.Societies, he said, should be built in a way that allowed them to reduce greenhouse gases. “The day will come when oil will run out, and if we wait for that it will be too late,” he said. The man — part scholar, part monk, part model, part policy wonk — was Saif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, the powerful 33-year-old son of Libya’s extroverted and impulsive president, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. He is, in short, the un-Qaddafi.

When the Libyan uprisings began in February 2011, the younger Mr. Qaddafi backed his father's violent crackdown from the start, promising "rivers of blood.''In June 2011, the International Criminal Court in The Hague called him Libya's "de facto prime minister'' as it issued arrest warrants for him, his father and the country's chief of intelligence

PS

Seif is still on the run, but if he is captured alive, he will not become the "green" leader of Libya that New York Times expected him to become. He will have to address some more serious questions than dubious climate change when facing the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Al Gore and the IPCC warmists have lost a leading supporter in Africa.

A new study published in Science today by researchers at Stanford University, Columbia University and the National Bureau of Economic Research has found that the warming of the planet over the last few decades have already led to a measurable reduction in crop yields for major staple grains.Read the entire article here

Reality check:

If you look at the USDA forecast for wheat output in all of the big wheat producing countries and put those all together;Bange: “You see a tremendous recovery in world wheat production.”In fact Agriculture Department Outlook Board Chairman Gerry Bange says this year’s world wheat production will be close to a record 672 million tons, about 24 million tons more than last year.Bange: “Its paramount to adding another Canada or another Australia to the world in terms of production. So we are seeing a very strong increase in wheat production this year, which is good I think.”

Read the entire article hereRussia’s projected wheat production is up 3.0 million tons this month to 56.0 million, with winter wheat yields at the second highest ever, 2008 being the record. The winter wheat harvest has been more than 75 percent completed in the South and North Caucasus Districts, and reports indicate exceptionally strong yields. Also, spring wheat growing conditions have been favorable in most of the country’s regions, especially in the Urals, upper Volga Valley, and most of Siberia with good timely rains, though parts of Siberia (Altai) and the Central District have suffered from dryness.

According to the government agency responsible for grain quality evaluation in Russia, this year the quality is expected to be better than average, with the share of food wheat at 75 percent. Ukraine’s wheat production prospects are also increased 3.0 million tons this month to 21.0 million.

India’s wheat production for 2011/12 was increased 1.9 million tons this month to a record 85.9 million, based on revised government estimates. Most of the crop was harvested months ago, and the government estimate should be close to final.China’s wheat production is increased 1.5 million tons to 117.0 million.

PSNo doubt the Stanford,Columbia and NBER researchers will declare that this years bumper wheat harvest is just an aberration - soon global warming will seriously decrease harvests... Warmists will always have an easy explanation when reality disproves their models. Fortunately they have lost their credibility long ago.

PS 2
I am pleased to note that my blog has reached the heights of the "scientists" at RealClimate:

@405 Septic Matthew says:Here is another pothole on the road to civilizational collapse:http://newnostradamusofthenorth.blogspot.com/2011/08/tremendous-recovery-in-world-wheat.htmlSeptic, really, if you’re going to do your reasoning like the do at WUWT, why bother posting at all? You are seriously touting grain production from one year as the savior of humanity? Year-to-year variation in crop production of all kinds is as variable as the weather. I guess last year, when Russia lost 30% of it’s grain crop, was just a mirage. Bore hole material: nothing but propaganda (not the data, the post) and ignorant of scientific process.

Last year warmists were busy claiming that the drought in Russia and the bad harvest was a result of global warming. Now, when we have a global bumper harvest, these people are arguing that it is only "year-to-year variation" in crop productions. One wonders, why did the warmists not use the same reasoning last year with regard to the harvest in Russia? Besides, nowhere have I been "touting grain production from one year as the savior of humanity".Still, I am quite confident that farmers also in the future will be able to increase grain production, as they have done so far, in spite of all doomsday predictions from the RealClimate bunch and their predecessors.

Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich, Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies has witten a devastating - and very true - article about the euro crisis and the misuse of power by the EU elite:

Once upon a time constitutional changes took years of debate in national legislatures. Today such amendments can be dictated by the leaders of Europe’s two key governments. The effect, however, is the same as that of a military interference in Kant’s time. National sovereignty, parliamentary democracy and the separation of powers in Europe are suspended by mutual agreement between France and Germany. The ongoing assault on the basic rules of liberal democracy has been the defining feature of the euro crisis. The measures taken to salvage the wreck of monetary union are so unpopular, inexplicable and unaffordable that the political class introduces them by stealth. Parliaments are only given days to consider the most complex pieces of legislation; the public is misled by sideshows such as obscure plans of ‘economic government’; and all is clouded by wordy evocations of ‘solidarity’, ‘responsibility’ and ‘stability’. It is as if George Orwell himself had written the script. The treaty to establish the new European Stability Mechanism is the best example of this fundamentally undemocratic approach. Even its name is misleading: First, it may be European but legally it stands outside the EU. This means that the EU can formally keep its commitment to the Lisbon Treaty’s ‘no bail-out clause’ though the ESM will provide just that. Second, it has nothing to do with creating real stability but with artificially keeping an inherently unstable monetary union alive. Third, it is no ingenious new mechanism but a very ordinary slush fund. To call this flawed construction a European Stability Mechanism is already an insult to the intelligence of the average European. --- European governments do not have the slightest interest in a thorough debate about the introduction of the ESM. They cannot risk the public understanding what this ESM treaty really is: an enabling act that undermines budget rights of parliaments; a coup d’état of the continent’s political leadership against their peoples; and the most costly piece of legislation ever put before European lawmakers. It would be crazy to explain to ordinary Europeans what their political leaders have conspired to introduce. And so they don’t. If the ESM at least solved any of Europe’s problems, these democratic deficits would still be severe but easier to accept. But it does not solve any problems. All it achieves is the transformation of the eurozone into a transfer and liability union without addressing the more fundamental problems of reducing debt levels and restoring periphery competitiveness. Instead of solving problems, the ESM creates new ones: it damages the creditworthiness of those few remaining countries effectively guaranteeing for the ESM. In a worst case scenario, Germany alone would need to shoulder the entire capital of the ESM – which it can’t manage without defaulting itself.None of the measures proposed is without alternative. To consider other options would require an open and democratic debate – the very debate that Europe’s elites deny their peoples. Having lost its fiscal sanity, Europe is about to give up its parliamentary democracy as well. When will the citizens of Europe stand up to those who are supposed to represent them?

PSThe last question is particularly relevant. It´s high time for European citizens to wake up and put a stop to the current EU madness. Even the traditionally pro-EU philosopher Jürgen Habermas now realises that something has gone terribly wrong:

When the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas says something about Europe and his country, Germans take special note. As a passionate European with a big following in the United States, Mr. Habermas, 82, comments when he senses that things are going very wrong.So when he recently delivered a speech in Berlin amid the continuing euro crisis, he captivated his audience. He accused the political elites of reneging on their responsibility to bring Europe to its citizens.“The process of European integration, which has always taken place over the heads of the population, has now reached a dead end,” Mr. Habermas said at a forum hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations. “It cannot go any further without switching from its usual administrative mode to one of greater public involvement.”The political elites “are burying their heads in the sand,” he said, adding, “They are doggedly persisting with their elitist project and the disenfranchisement of the European population.”Those who agree with Mr. Habermas often cite the behavior of José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, the Union’s executive, and Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, which represents the 27 member states.During these past months, both have failed to explain to a wider public what is happening to Europe and the euro. When they give interviews, they tend to address an elitist audience. Neither reaches out to citizens. “I doubt if they ever thought of doing town-hall meetings,” said Pawel Swieboda, director of DemosEuropa, an independent research organization in Warsaw.“They don’t bother to do such meetings because they don’t have to stand for election,” added Reinhard Bütikofer, a German and leader of the Greens in the European Parliament.

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Kumi Naidoo´s stupid stunt in Greenland was an enormous waste of time and money. The only thing it achieved, was a huge carbon footprint.

The Danish government definitively has put a stop to the desperate attempts by Kumi Naidoo and his fellow Greenpeace alarmists to deny the people of Greenland the right to exploit their natural resources:

Denmark this week launched its first formal strategy for the Arctic region, a plan intended to facilitate private investment and help international companies enter the far north as the ice melts and vast natural resources become accessible, the country's foreign minister said in an interview.The Arctic, which covers more than a sixth of the Earth's landmass, plus the vast Arctic Ocean, has long been treated as a highly fragile ecosystem that must be protected against commercial exploitation. Denmark's new strategy marks a shift in priority to focus on economic development and improving the living standards of local people, Lene Espersen told The Wall Street Journal. "Previously, the discussion about the Arctic region has focused on the environment, on whether we oughtn't to turn the region into one large natural preserve. But Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands have agreed that we want to utilize the commercial and economic potential of the area," Ms. Espersen said.

Environmentalists and nongovernmental organizations have traditionally opposed industrial development in the Arctic, and in June, Greenpeace activists boarded an oil rig belonging to Britain's Cairn Energy in an unsuccessful attempt to block the first oil exploration drilling in offshore Greenland. But the government of Greenland, which, like the Faroe Islands, is a largely autonomous entity under the Danish throne, maintains that its people have the right to benefit from the riches of its land and waters. The new strategy makes this position Denmark's official stance.

"With the new strategy we are opening up for international corporations from the whole world to come to the Arctic and to Greenland. The signal we are sending is that we will welcome them with open arms, we are not nervous, we are not afraid of letting industry into the area," Ms. Espersen said, adding that all investments will be subject to strict environmental regulation.

It appears that the remnants of madman Gaddafi´s forces use the Rixos hotel as one of their last "strongholds": A group of journalists are under siege at a five-star hotel in Tripoli where they are being held hostage by soldiers loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Mortar attacks and gunfire have been reported in the grounds of the £500-a-night Rixos hotel, where 35 foreigners are being held. The hostages are unable to leave the hotel compound and armed guards are patrolling the corridors with AK47s.

Grand and Serene, these are the two words one would most definitely describe the newly opened Rixos Al Nasr Hotel in Tripoli, Libya. This luxurious hotel which opened its doors mid-March, promises to bring to its guests a taste of Turkish hospitality and its culture of service perfection.

Located in Al Nasr Park in Tripoli, the hotel was built to give an illusion of finding a well preserved forest in the midst of a busy city. It is surrounded by native over eighty years old Ocaliptus trees in Tripoli. This particular area was chosen due to one of the Rixos chain's traits, in which the company acknowledges their success, which is their hotel's strategic locations and fitting a suitable theme to establish its mark in the area.

Dubbed as "The Living Hotel", Rixos Tripoli comprises an area of 20.000m2, the hotel itself is architecturally unique, designed and built without any damage to the environment.

Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan is the latest in a long list of prominent economists, who think that the euro in its present form will fail:

"The euro is breaking down," Greenspan said. European banks are in trouble because they hold debt of countries close to default, such as Greece, he added. "The reason we're so sluggish is the level of uncertainty." Concern about Europe's ongoing debt crisis has contributed to fears of a double-dip recession on this side of the Atlantic, especially following a downturn in U.S. manufacturing sentiment. A gauge of factory output on the U.S. eastern coast continued to decline in August, according to data released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The euro-zone crisis matters, Greenspan said, because the world economy is extremely integrated and because about 20% of U.S. exports go to Europe. Though the odds of a new recession in the U.S. have risen, the former Fed chief said he doesn't expect that to happen--at least for now. Casting serious doubt over the continued survival of the euro, Greenspan said the cultural and economic differences between northern and southern Europe are just too big. While countries in the north--such as Germany, France and Finland--have a lot in common, they are very different to countries in the south, such as Greece. Southern European states tend to have current account deficits, meaning they consume more than they produce, so they end up having to borrow from countries in the north. "That cannot go on," said Greenspan, who served as Fed chairman from 1987 until 2006.

PSThe question is, how long can Angela Merkel disregard the growing criticism - even among the supporters of her own party - against her lack of leadership. So far, her, and president Sarkozy´s policy has been to postpone any real decisions, hoping for a "miracle" to happen later. But, as Greenspan said, the euro will break down - and it must be replaced by something better. And that better is not a federal European state - which people do not support. Neither is the "European economic government", led by "president" Herman von Rompuy, a solution. (It is a joke).

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

Long-term forecasts are suggesting that the coming winter could be colder than usual, and have more snow than normal. Exacta Weather are predicting a cold winter this year. “Large parts of Central and North America will face prolonged periods of below average temperatures with above average snowfall throughout this winter, with many Eastern and Western parts also facing periods of below average temperatures with above average snowfall amounts.

“We expect North America and the Pacific Northwest region to experience a very severe winter, the Cascades snowpack is likely to see increased levels due to the negative (cold) phase of PDO. Our weather models are also showing an increased likelihood for major snow events in Northeastern and Midwestern parts of the US throughout December 2011 and January 2012, that could see severe blizzard conditions hit New York City and Chicago.

“With low solar activity levels, changes to the Gulf Stream, the negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and the general trend for a much colder winter after the onset of last year’s La Niña, this winter could prove to be a record breaker with extremely cold temperatures and exceptional levels of snow for many parts of the US”.“I fully expect many parts of the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada to experience a particularly harsh winter this year with copious amounts of snow,” stated Madden. That might mean a great ski season for skiers. But also may mean now is the time to get your planning for winter started. Is the snowblower ready to go? Are your snow tires ready?

It looks like Europe - or at least the UK and Ireland - also are in for a cold winter:

Yet another long range forecasting agency has pinned its colours to the mast by predicting a colder than average winter 2011-12 across Ireland and the United Kingdom.

UK-based Positive Weather Solutions says the winter months will be colder than average everywhere and that some regions will experience significantly colder than average temperatures between December and March.

The agency, which has a relatively high success rate in its long range weather predictions, has also given a 36% chance of the Ireland and Britain experiencing a White Christmas. This prediction in reflected in the latest odds from Paddy Power Bookmakers who on Sunday shortened their odds of snow falling on Christmas Day to 11/4 in in London and 7/2 in Dublin.

The chilly outlook follows six weeks after another UK-based long range weather forecaster, also issued a severe winter weather warning. James Madden from weather organisation Exacta Weather is once again forecasting record breaking snowfall and freezing temperatures during November, December and January.

Monday, 22 August 2011

"The world has less than 10 years to halt the global rise in greenhouse gas emissions if we are to avoid catastrophic consequences for people and the planet."

“In coming decades, changes in our environment and the resulting upheavals from droughts to inundated coastal areas to loss of arable land are likely to become a major driver of war and conflict,”

Ban Ki-moon, U.N. Secretary-General

Ban Ki-moon and other international climate alarmists still continue blabbering about the forthcoming "global warming catastrophe". However, the president of the forthcoming COP-17 conference in Durban,South Africa´s International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has a far more realistic take on global warming:

She said developing countries had to balance climate change initiatives with their efforts to build their economies.

"People need to eat first, before other concerns. They need jobs," she said.

COP meetings require developing nations to reduce emissions only if the funding and technology are supplied by more developed members.

Of course, Nkoana-Mashabane also uses standard climate liturgical phrases, like "the COP17 meeting would be a step towards establishing legal guidelines on emissions reductions", but her priorities are clear.

This is what she actually was telling her audience:

Global warming is NOT a first priority for South Africa and other developing countries. Jobs and economic growth are much more important. But, if the western countries (are stupid enough to) offer billions of "free climate change money", South Africa and other developing countries are willing to receive it.

Today the world has witnessed the end of the Gaddafi era in Libya. Nobody knows how things will develop in Libya, Egypt or the other countries swept by the popular uprisings during the Arab spring. But at least there is hope now for the peoples who for such a long time have been oppressed by unscrupulous dictators.

On a day like this, it is good to remember that these popular uprisings almost certainly would not have taken place without the much maligned policies of president George W. Bush and the Iraq war.

The world has a clear interest in the spread of democratic values, because stable and free nations do not breed the ideologies of murder. They encourage the peaceful pursuit of a better life. And there are hopeful signs of a desire for freedom in the Middle East. Arab intellectuals have called on Arab governments to address the "freedom gap" so their peoples can fully share in the progress of our times. Leaders in the region speak of a new Arab charter that champions internal reform, greater politics participation, economic openness, and free trade. And from Morocco to Bahrain and beyond, nations are taking genuine steps toward politics reform. A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom for other nations in the region. It is presumptuous and insulting to suggest that a whole region of the world -- or the one-fifth of humanity that is Muslim -- is somehow untouched by the most basic aspirations of life. Human cultures can be vastly different. Yet the human heart desires the same good things, everywhere on Earth. In our desire to be safe from brutal and bullying oppression, human beings are the same. In our desire to care for our children and give them a better life, we are the same. For these fundamental reasons, freedom and democracy will always and everywhere have greater appeal than the slogans of hatred and the tactics of terror.

But, as columnist Ralp Peters recently pointed out, left-leaning American and European liberals, and Arab leaders will not admit the importance of the Bush "freedom doctrine" any time soon (that will be done later by historians):

Over the past week, we’ve seen Egypt’s deposed dictator face charges in a court of law; the tanks of Syria’s dictator killing—but not deterring—unarmed freedom protesters; and ill-armed-but-determined Libyan rebels gnawing their way into the strongholds of the man responsible for more American deaths than any other terrorist but Osama bin Laden. While plenty of problems will plague the Middle East for decades to come, the pace of largely positive change has been swifter than anyone (not least, the Arabs themselves) imagined possible.

For all the dangers and difficulties ahead, there’s real hope in the Middle East for the first time in over a half-century. And the man who made it possible is George W. Bush.

Oh, Bush will continue to be vilified by our own spiteful left, by Euro-snobs, and by Arabs unable to admit that the American destruction of Saddam Hussein’s regime awakened them to the realization that dictators don’t have to be forever. But the endless calumny doesn’t matter much in the face of Bush’s historic achievement. Future historians will get it: The occupation of Iraq may have been clumsy, but there’s nonetheless a direct line from the image of a grubby, confused Saddam Hussein emerging from his hole in the ground to the sight of Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, in a court-room cage.

Bush and the neo-conservatives who drove the invasion of Iraq got many of the details wrong—not least, their assumption that they were smarter than any mere generals—but their great insight was that the Middle East had to change, but couldn’t change on its own. Something had to break the cycle of failure and oppression, or the region would continue to produce Islamist fanatics and crises without end.